Which place is cheaper, Quito or Manila?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Manila or Quito?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Manila and Quito can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Manila or Quito?
Manila
A sprawling metropolis that is home to more than 12 million people, Manila is one huge, misunderstood concrete jungle, full of diverse cultures, traffic, pollution, restaurants, shopping malls, noise and nightlife. If you're looking to soak in culture and feel the vibe of a place rather than seeking a city that specifically caters to tourists, Manila is the place to be. Capital of the Philippines, Manila is also the center for education, business, and transportation.
Quito
Nestled between two mountain ranges lies the world's highest capital city, Quito, Ecuador. For history lovers, Quito is a very desirable destination as it's home to the Quito Historic Center – one of the largest and best-preserved historic centers in the Americas.
Even though Quito is full of people – in fact, it's the second most populous city in the country – very few of its inhabitants speak English. Luckily, however, the citizens of Quito tend to speak a slower and more clear Spanish than surrounding areas. This is the perfect place to practice what you read in your Intro to Spanish book.
Before visiting Quito, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, give yourself a few days to grow accustomed to the elevation. Staying 9,350 feet above sea level takes some getting used to. Second, don't be fooled into thinking that just because you're visiting a town on the equator that you'll need all your summer clothes. Because of the city's elevation, the area keeps a relatively cool climate year round.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.
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Manila Prices
Philippines PricesQuito Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManila $107Quito $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Manila is $107, while the average daily cost in Quito is $66. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Manila and Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManila $55Quito $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManila $110Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Manila and Quito
Looking for a hotel in Manila or Quito? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Manila Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manila $14Quito $6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manila
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Manila:
- Full On 5-7 hours ATV Adventure Rivers-Mountains-Jungle with Transfers Manila: $280
- Airport Transfer from Manila Airport: $120
- Amazing Pagsanjan Falls with Authentic filipino lunch Plus Transfers frm manila*: $139
- Day Hike Mt. Batulao 811 meters with transfers from Manila** 2024: $130
- Escape to Enchanting Hidden Valley Springs! with Transfers***: $170
- METRO MANILA AIRPORT TRANSFERS | VAN: $67
- Manila Airport (MNL): One-way Private Transfers: $58
- Manila Airport Chauffeur service Manila Airport private Transfer : $20
- Manila Airport Transfer: $38
- Manila Airports Quality Safe and Reliable Airport Transfer: $40
- Manila Int Airport (MNL) to Manila - Arrival Private Transfer: $25
- Manila International Airport Private Transfer To & From City: $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quito
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Quito:
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Taxi from Bus Terminal to Hotel$10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quito
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quito:
- Private Transfer from or to Quito Airport (one way): $20
- Private Departure Transfer from Quito to the Airport - One Way: $21
- Private Arrival Transfer from Airport to Quito - One Way: $21
- Quito hotels to Quito Airport (UIO) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Transfer from or to Airport Mariscal Sucre (one way): $23
- Unique Quito Transfer Mariscal Sucre Airport to Hotel: $27
- Quito airport private transfer IN or OUT: $28
- Quito PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport: $28
- Transfer Out from Quito to the Airport: $30
- Private Transfer from Quito Airport : $30
- Private Transfer from/to Airport: $35
- Private Transfer from the Airport to the city: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito and Manila change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayManila $31Quito $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manila
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Manila.
- Binondo Chinatown Food Tour with Free Food Samples: $55
- Manila slums: happy land, smokey mountain and ugbo food tour: $56
- Ugbo Manila Street Food Tour with Tuktuk Ride: $60
- Manila Food Tour: Explore World's Oldest Chinatown: $65
- Manila Food Tour: Introduction to Philippine Street Food: $65
- Guided Food Tour of Binondo with Tastings: $65
- Makati Street Food Tour Experience: $65
- ⭐ Manila Street Food Tour in the Downtown, Eat and Drink⭐: $65
- Manila Chinatown Food Tour with Local Guide: $75
- Intramuros and Chinatown Food Tour with Food Samples: $80
- Cultural Dance Show with Dinner in Manila: $120
- Day Tour in Manilas History and Savor a Cultural Dinner: $175
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.
- Old Town Highlights & Food Tour: $29
- Guilty Pleasures Walking Food Tours in Quito: $45
- Food Tour in quaint old town with tastings and lunch: $55
- Quito Cooking Class Shared Experience: $59
- Ecuador Food Tour: $69
- Authentic Andean Cooking Class in Quito : $85
- Cooking Class in Quito with Chef, Market Tour and Transportation: $88
- Cooking Class with Chef, Market Tour & Transportation: $88
- Cooking Class with a chef and local market including hotel pickup: $89
- Ecuadorian Cooking Class with a chef and Local Market: $89
- Quito after-dark street food tour : $90
- Afternoon Coffee in Quito - Foodie Tour with empanada cooking class: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manila $20Quito $16
Tours and Activities in Manila
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Manila are as follows:
- Skip the Line: Hike Eat Swim at Mount Purro Nature Reserve Ticket: $22
- Explore the Urban Art of Mural and Street Art Tour: $25
- A Step Back in Time: Intramuros Walking Tour: $28
- Historical Bamboo Bike Tour in Intramuros: $32
- Old Manila Intramuros Area Walking Tour: $32
- Manila night cruise, night life, foodie tour and 3d theather: $34
- Intramuros Myths and Nights Tour: $35
- Guided Sunset Bamboo Bike Tour in Intramuros: $35
- Intramuros Night Bamboo Bike Tour: $35
- Experience Intramuros with Bamboo Bicycle - Ecotours: $37
- Intramuros, National Museum, and Chinatownn 6hrsTour: $37
- Intramuros Heritage Tour: $39
Typical Entertainment Prices in Quito
Here are a few typical costs in Quito for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to Guyasimine Museum for Two$8.00
Tours and Activities in Quito
Here are a few actual costs in Quito for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Middle of the World shuttle Tour: $14
- 2.5-Hour City Bus Tour: $15
- Night Tour in Quito with free time at Old Town: $15
- Quito Walking Experience Tour with Activities: $25
- Shared Quito City Tour: $28
- Walking Tour Quito: $30
- Old Town Walking Tour with Basilica Church Visit: $30
- Quito : Must-see Sites Walking Tour With A Guide: $31
- Gastronomic and Cultural Walking Tour of Quito with Tastings: $32
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $34
- Quito : Private Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $34
- Middle of the World Tour with entrances every day: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManila $10Quito $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Quito
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Quito from other travelers:
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Beers for Two$9.00
Sample the Local Flavors in Quito
Also in Quito, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Half-day tour to high altitude vineyards and wine tasting: $45
- Ecuador Spirit Craft Brewery Tasting and Latitude 0 Private Tour: $130
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manila and Quito, we can see that Manila is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Manila is in Asia and Quito is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Quito would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Quito and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Manila would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Manila than you might in Quito.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Manila Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manila or Quito?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Quito. When comparing the sizes of Manila and Quito, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.